Samson is a liver transplant recipient. Diagnosed with biliary atresia and transplanted at 8 months old, he is now a Junior at Yale University studying Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and pursuing a certificate (minor) in global health.
Inspired by his lived experiences growing up with a transplant, and with the support of numerous families, community members, medical professionals, and the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation, he founded Project Hope: An organization that aims to make peer support a robust and accessible resource for all pediatric transplant recipients.
At Project Hope, Samson oversees the daily operations of the group, coordinates weekly team meetings, and focuses on the development and implementation of long-term strategic goals. His work also encompasses fundraising and the development of various collaborations across the liver, transplant, and young adult spaces. Through his work, he has spoken at various conferences and seminars, sharing his journey from transplant to Project Hope. Additionally, he has participated in various community panels to help promote peer support for young adults. Samson also works with various other organizations, including serving on the Patients, Families, and Engaged Partners Committee of the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation. He’s also a member of the Transplant Advocate Partners (TAP) group, working to advance young adult engagement in research and advocacy.
Samson is interested in contributing to research-based advances that address needs within the transplant community and has previously worked with Cincinnati Children’s to model Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency using human liver organoids, helping further our understanding of the condition and potential non-transplant cures. Most recently, he has been working to address challenges associated with the ischemic storage of transplantable organs.
Outside of the Transplant community, he’s an avid musician, singing in and directing an acappella group, Pitches and Tones, and serving as a conductor with Dpops, a student-run pops orchestra.
Samson is excited to be sharing in this work with the Project Hope team and is looking forward to growing organizational capacity and infrastructure through meaningful collaborations with community stakeholders.
